Nearing almost 50 years since the release of the first film in its trilogy, Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘The Godfather’ remains one of the highest rated films of all time, placing second in the IMDb movie charts, given a rating of 9.2/10. Not only has the film won multiple awards (including best picture, best actor, and best writing), but it has also managed to stand the test of time, still being referenced in pop culture and other movies today. But why exactly is it held in such a high regard?
Set in 1940s New York, ‘The Godfather’ follows the lives of the Corleone mafia family, led by Marlon Brando’s Vito Corleone. The films explore the development and growth of Al Pacino’s character, Michael Corleone, who becomes more and more involved in the family’s business, under certain circumstances. Filled with action, violence and betrayals, the plot of these films is the main reason for its immense popularity, but it is also important to note the other features which make them so good. In particular, the cinematography and the acting.
Cinematography
Gordon Willis, the cinematographer, employs a vast range of interesting techniques and details that provide meaning and nuance to the film’s narrative. A great example of this can be found in the very first scene - the opening. Perhaps to set the tone of the rest of the movie, it begins with a stark conversation between the character Bonasera and Don Vito Corleone as he asks the Don to help him. To emphasise the complexity and underhand nature of the conversation, the lighting in the room is purposefully quite dark and dim, and this builds up to a point where only the silhouette of both characters can be seen at the peak of the exchange. Another example of this being the gradual darkening of the lighting used in scenes with Michael Corleone, to symbolise his descent further into the depths of crime and his psychological development.
Apart from this, the use of shadows is also quite notable throughout the films. Willis chose to light the walls and surroundings of the room instead of the actual character in certain scenes, which created shadows in specific areas - this added to the tragic and criminal tone of the film in a more artistic way. This choice of overhead lighting was somewhat revolutionary, in that it was quite uncommon to use lighting this way. In contrast however, some scenes in locations abroad (Sicily), were shot in a more open manner, often displaying the countryside and nature which differed to the scenes shot on the busy, grey roads of New York.
Acting
The acting in The Godfather trilogy may genuinely be some of the best of all time, having won multiple awards for acting such as Marlon Brando’s Best Actor award at the Academy Awards 1973. One of the main reasons for the incredible acting in the films is the use of ‘method acting’, which some of you may have heard of considering Lady Gaga’s decision to use method acting in House of Gucci (2021). Method acting, opposed to classical acting, can be defined as a technique of acting in which an actor aspires to complete emotional identification with a part, usually involving improvisation. Both Marlon Brando and Al Pacino used method acting in ‘The Godfather’, but Marlon Brando is still to this day considered one of the best method actors out there.
Specifically for his role as Don Corleone, Brando stuffed his mouth with cotton wool during the audition, to make his character seem similar to a bulldog. By straying from the script and improvising in some scenes, Marlon Brando amplified the character and role of Don Corleone. For example, in the film, mafia gangs have a clear hierarchy, with the Don being similar to a monarch and Brando’s use of body language and emotion emphasise this idea. Similarly, Al Pacino employed method acting to create a connection between the two characters, and also the audience, which overall makes the film much more enjoyable and engaging.
Although ‘The Godfather’ is evidently a spectacular piece of cinema, it is also important to note its flaws - would the film still be as popular if it were released today? Some might argue that the film itself is untimely, but it is still true that a huge factor in its popularity was that it was different from all the other gangster film of the 60s, and so provided a new outlook on the genre.
Despite this, it is certain that the film is a must-watch, and I highly recommend that everyone should watch it if you have not already.
